‘Progress’ being made in improving Israel-Palestine football relations

The head of the FIFA Monitoring Committee who has been tasked with identifying solutions to issues hindering the development of football in the Israel-Palestine region has said progress is “slow” and that “politics and conflict” were hampering negotiations.

Tokyo Sexwale visited both countries in his latest trip to the region, though did say he was “confident we will find credible solutions”.
He said: “Politics and conflict do have a bearing on sporting issues and we need to ensure that they are managed so that they don’t overpower FIFA’s main objective of ensuring football for all.

“It was very important for me to meet and discuss with the respective public authorities. I was very pleased to feel on both sides a real commitment towards facilitating the development of our game.

“Of course, the route is long and progress is slow but I am confident that we will find credible solutions.”

“As part of my mandate, I came here to see with my own eyes and listen to everyone, what I see is pain: pain that the Palestinian and Israeli people shouldn’t have to go through.

“This region needs peace, which comes through dialogue, and football can help in this dialogue.

“I will now report to the FIFA President and the Congress for them to take further decisions.”